HookedonWaterFitness.com

Category: Thoughts

  • Mental Might

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    What is mental might? It’s what (perhaps finally) gets you out of bed in the morning. It’s what makes your genius kick in while you work. It’s your motivation and inspiration.

    Mental might actually comes from the heart. According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, “every single cell is connected to your heart and, because your heart responds to and is controlled by your brain, every single cell in your body is affected by your thoughts.” (Switch on Your Brain, Caroline Leaf, 2013)

    So, no kidding. You have a desire in your heart, you have the thought to make it happen, and every single cell in your body responds. Cool, huh?

    DESIRE IN YOUR HEART -> THOUGHT -> EVERY CELL IN YOUR BODY RESPONDS

    Let’s put it to work on water fitness.

    I know you have a lot on your plate. I know your schedule is hectic. But you know as well as I do that putting in some time for exercise will benefit your busy life.

    We’ve discussed in other blogs how exercise manages pain (Brain Your Pain), and helps you to lose weight (Calorie Killers), but how about the assistance exercise provides to give you what you want?

    Whether it’s a super-shape hot bod, more willpower in your life, less stress, improved self-image, better attitude in general, or some other mental or physical challenge you want to conquer, exercise holds the secret.

    How?

    Alright let’s take an example. You want an improved self image. What would make you feel better about yourself?

    To start with, you’ll feel better if you begin to do what you say you’re going to do. What you tell other people that you’ll do, and what you tell yourself you’ll do.This is not only a mark of integrity but of willpower.

    Willpower is the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals. As with any other ability – learning an instrument, or a new language – this starts with commitment and practice. Yes, you have to practice willpower. Start small and work up.

    Calendar

    Determine that you’ll actively begin to work out in a pool. Commit to the action by adding it to your calendar. Put it in big, purple letters so you’ll know it’s important. Check around your area and find an indoor pool, so that weather changes don’t hamper your workout.

    While you’re checking, find out if they offer exercise classes in the pool. Most facilities with an indoor pool do and oftentimes they’re included in your membership.

    Then, get your buns to the pool on the day you blocked out on your calendar. Most classes are 45 minutes, so you can do this during lunch hour, before or after work if you’re short on time.

     

    After you get home, congratulate yourself. You just took the first step towards improving your self-image. You committed to a goal, you exercised willpower to accomplish it, and you saw it through. Celebrate!

    If you find that water fitness is for you, then you’ll also find that you want to come back. Before you know it, you’ll be hooked on water fitness too.

    At this point, it’s lather, rinse, and repeat your willpower exercise until you realize you’re very happy with how you feel about yourself.

     

    Remember: It’s not all in your head, it starts in your heart.

     

    And I’ll see ya’ in the water!

     

  • Hooked on Water Fitness One

     

    As a kid, I used to daydream about being a microbiologist; spending my days under water with tanks on my back, examining the most minute and inimitable creatures living in an incredible world that is truly the last frontier. Or shedding the tanks and swimming uninhibited underwater past colorful coral reefs and fascinating large fish – swimming with the dolphins, anyone? Occasionally, in my child’s mind I would catch my sleeve on a bit of coral rock or encounter an angry native and the “downside” of my beautiful life would come to the surface with a little pressure to get to air and away from predators or hungry sharks. I leapt at every chance I got to be in the water. Either swimming, skiing and fishing at the lake, or swimming and diving at the community pool, or on rare family vacations at the beach. Just put me in the water!

    My parents were cautious when it came to the kids being in the water. At the lake, Dad would check the area for stumps, rocks, and snakes before letting us go in. At the beach my parents kept an eye on us. And in the pool, well, there were 100 kids, 4 or 5 lifeguards, and I’m grateful they were there.

    The total circle of my life – all of our lives – is a little like that. Beauty and danger; ease and pressure; dreams and reality. That’s what this is all about.

    TODAY

    I spend at least 15 hours of every week in the water, leading a water aerobics class, playing pool volleyball, and/or working out by myself. Each time I’m in the water all those feelings from my childhood come rushing back: the relaxation of being in the water, the escape from stress, the soothing blue of the pool or the water itself; the freedom from my inconvenient cane; the power of the water, which can be both beautiful and dangerous at the same time.

    Then there’s the workout itself. Whether I’m running laps across the pool, doing cardio or resistance with the buoys, engaged in the high intensity interval exercises, or the balance and stretching part of the workout, it’s ALL GOOD.

    The exercise is my break from my work as a creative. I design mini ads and create content for companies and professionals. I work out of my home and have for years, way before the current rage.

    The biggest challenge in my life – all of our lives? – is to drown the noise, lock up the negative, find the still small voice, and for me, come back to the lure of the water. Water Exercise is one solution to finding peace while getting and staying in shape and meeting new people.

    Here I’ll make it my mission probable to examine the different forms of water exercise and fitness, the equipment used and the benefits, find the blessing, and share it with you. Please join me, as I share why I’m Hooked on Water Fitness.

    As an Amazon Affiliate, I will get a commission when you click on any product links. Thank you.